Jets IDP Discussion (1 Viewer)

[Rovers]

OK, I had said that I felt Vilma's numbers would not be top five, even not top ten from a FF standpoint, and so far, that has been fairly accurate crystal balling. But why has Rhodes' numbers dropped the last two weeks? As a Jets fan, I admit I often follow the ball and the play, and until I go back and watch the games again, I don't come away any smarter from having watched on Sunday. So, I went back and watched....

Mangini has been using the 4-3 a lot more the past two weeks. That should help Vilma, right? Nope. The last two weeks, the Jets ran a lot of 4-3, but put one of the LB's up on the LOS anyway. This made some sense against the Colts, they dared them to run against a weak looking run D front. But, they did the same thing against Jax, which was frankly, a derned stupid thing to do. (IMO)

It's almost a 5-2, but THEN he's blitzing Vilma, both pass blitzing AND run blitzing! That leaves one LB back to at the second level, and if Vilma fills the wrong hole, which he's been doing rather consistantly, the RB has a running lane a mile wide at the LOS. To make matters worse, Rhodes hasn't been up in the box as often. This approach against the Colts made some sense, but against Jax? STUPID.

In the 4-3, the Jets don't have any NFL caliber DT's. DRob is a bona-fide bust. That also hurts Vilma's tackle opportunities. While Vilma has gotten a lot of QB hurries and hits with the blitz calls he's gotten, he hasn't gotten any sacks for his efforts.

What the heck happened to keeping Vilma back and blitzing Rhodes? that was working great, but has been abandoned the past two weeks. Mangini is getting TOO cute with his schemes. The fact that he is a rookie coach has been more apparent the past two weeks.

I think, and hope, he goes back to what was working in weeks 1,2 and 3. either that, or Ronnie Brown, get ready for a career day.

 

[Jene Bramel]

OK, I had said that I felt Vilma's numbers would not be top five, even not top ten from a FF standpoint, and so far, that has been fairly accurate crystal balling. But why has Rhodes' numbers dropped the last two weeks? As a Jets fan, I admit I often follow the ball and the play, and until I go back and watch the games again, I don't come away any smarter from having watched on Sunday. So, I went back and watched....Mangini has been using the 4-3 a lot more the past two weeks. That should help Vilma, right? Nope. The last two weeks, the Jets ran a lot of 4-3, but put one of the LB's up on the LOS anyway. This made some sense against the Colts, they dared them to run against a weak looking run D front. But, they did the same thing against Jax, which was frankly, a derned stupid thing to do. (IMO)It's almost a 5-2, but THEN he's blitzing Vilma, both pass blitzing AND run blitzing! That leaves one LB back to at the second level, and if Vilma fills the wrong hole, which he's been doing rather consistantly, the RB has a running lane a mile wide at the LOS. To make matters worse, Rhodes hasn't been up in the box as often. This approach against the Colts made some sense, but against Jax? STUPID. In the 4-3, the Jets don't have any NFL caliber DT's. DRob is a bona-fide bust. That also hurts Vilma's tackle opportunities. While Vilma has gotten a lot of QB hurries and hits with the blitz calls he's gotten, he hasn't gotten any sacks for his efforts. What the heck happened to keeping Vilma back and blitzing Rhodes? that was working great, but has been abandoned the past two weeks. Mangini is getting TOO cute with his schemes. The fact that he is a rookie coach has been more apparent the past two weeks. I think, and hope, he goes back to what was working in weeks 1,2 and 3. either that, or Ronnie Brown, get ready for a career day.

The run fits are crucial in the hybrid front scheme -- 3-4, 4-3 whatever -- if you don't read the keys correctly and shoot the wrong gap you're getting gashed. When the defensive line isn't holding up its end of the bargain it becomes an even bigger issue.The Cover-2 approach against the Colts works -- the Titans proved that this weekend. So does the 3-4 front with OLB blitzing from the outside. The Jets scheme should work well against a team like the Colts -- when they get the personnel -- Thomas/Hobson don't have near the same talent the Steelers and Chargers do on the outside but they're good enough. The Colts just elected to run the ball up the gut at another weakness.I think the problem with Kerry Rhodes this week (and moving forward unfortunately) may be that Mangini is having to plug too many holes at the same time. He has crap for cover corners -- Drew Coleman this week, yuck -- and a safety he doesn't trust (Eric Coleman) over the top in deep coverage. So, IMO, he elected to play more 4-3 this week to beef up the run defense (didn't work anyway) and leave Rhodes, who he likes in coverage, back to help take some of the heat off his weak corners. It really was a totally different gameplan against the Jags, although the net result looked the same.The Jet defense is at a crossroads. Mangini is committed to this scheme. Despite the suicidal ideation of the Jet message board guys who want to fry themselves and take the coach with them, Mangini is a smart fella and he knows the talent isn't there yet. Same as Crennel did in Cleveland last year. He needs to weigh whether it is more important for these young guys need to learn their keys under fire and grow into the scheme to improve the chances of it working in 2007 or to move to a 4-3 a much higher percentage of the time and play for a playoff spot this year. Problem is, there are just too many weaknesses to exploit in either front. I feel for you, Rovers, I see a lot of the same issues with my Bengal defense. Defensive football in the NFL is the ultimate team sport. One weak link will be exploited with Mortal Kombat like efficiency. Two weak links are for any offensive coordinator worth his salt.